title: The interplay of inflammation and cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have up to a 50-fold increased risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recent advances in the etiology of vascular damage in this disease stress the interplay of lupus-specific inflammatory factors with traditional cardiac risk factors, leading to increased endothelial damage. This review analyzes the putative role that immune dysregulation and lupus-specific factors may play in the pathogenesis of premature vascular damage in this disease. The potential role of various cytokines, in particular type I interferons, in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis is examined. Potential therapeutic targets are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan,nn Arbor, MI 48109-5680, USA.
authors.forename: J Michelle
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kahlenberg
authors.forename: Mariana J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology